-- "Women's World Cup Was More Than A Game For Japan," is the Los Angeles Times' headline on the news. As the Times writes from Tokyo and Seoul, "for Japan, this was more than a soccer game. It was an opportunity to prove on a global stage that a country devastated four months ago by a killer earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe still possessed the heart and soul of a fierce competitor."

"Political strife continues to hobble [Japan's] reconstruction efforts," the Journal writes. "The March 11 disasters have further strained the country's economic woes and exacerbated the need to instill reform measures to combat the rapidly aging population. While Japan grapples with all of these headaches, soccer has emerged as the unlikely bright spot."

-- And ABC News writes from Tokyo that the Japanese team "inspired a nation still reeling from its worst natural disaster and nuclear accident.

Leigha Miyata of Tokyo is typical, ABC reports. For her, "the stunning victory was symbolic of a team that has come to represent hope for a country uncertain about its future. More than four months after the disasters, thousands of evacuees remain in shelters, while nearly 100,000 people have been displaced because of radiation concerns. 'I think this is a great starting point for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami,' she said. 'They'll see how far Japan can go, even with the odds stacked against them.' "